Misconceptions in Religion By: Rifah Islam Opening Thoughts As a Muslim woman and hijabi, I feel as though the world has many misconceptions about me. The information they were fed about my religion comes from many places such as the media, or the morals they were taught at home. However, in very few instances does that information come from a Muslim. We are given very few opportunities to break those misconceptions about our religion. That’s why we will be exploring “What are misconceptions that Hinduism and Buddhism faced with?”. It will be interesting to see what misconceptions other religions deal with. We will see how the world views them, then we will study their religion to see what they’re truly like.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HINDUISM
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Misconception #1: Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.
Quote “Then, there is the Hindu form of monotheism, in which the Divine is formally referred to as Brahman (not Brahmin, the priestly caste). It is said to be the source, the hub, from which all deities are manifest. It transcends all attempts at defining or qualifying it. It is not male nor female, has no form or description. It takes on apparent form or characteristics solely to allow humans the ability to relate to it. In that state, it may be called Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Devi, etc. All these names thus refer to a Qualified Absolute that is simultaneously beyond qualifications.” - Ramdas Lamb
Analysis Hinduism is technically not a polytheistic religion. In this piece, written by Ramdas Lamb, a former hindu monk, explains that different kinds of gods and deities all represent the One larger force they believe in. They are all that One force, however they are just represented in different forms, qualities and characteristics. For example, Hindus can be found in temples, mosques and churches of other religions because they believe that all those forms of God are representing the One they believe in. However, due to the fact that different idols are often associated with Hinduism, they are often labeled as a polytheistic religion. This misconception, that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion is harmful. Since many of the world’s biggest religions, like Christianity and Islam are a monotheistic religion, Hinduism can draw a lot of criticism for being polytheistic. However, since it is not, that criticism is unnecessary and it disrespectful to the whole idea of their religion.
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Misconception #2: Those who believe in Hinduism worship idols.
Quote “No Hindu will say he or she is worshipping an idol. Instead, Hindus believe a physical representation of God – in the form of an idol - helps them focus on an aspect of prayer or meditation.” - Moni Basu
Analysis Like mentioned before, Hinduism is not a polytheistic religion. They enforce the representation of God through many forms, which can include idols. They worship the idea of the idol representing their God. It’s like algebra, where you substitute a variable for the numbers you don’t know, to better understand the equation. The idols help them find something they can connect to their God with, but they do not necessarily worship that idol. This misconception also draws a lot of negative light towards the religion, which is again unnecessary since the believers of Hinduism do not worship idols.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BUDDHISM
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Misconception #1: Meditation is practiced by all Buddhists.
Quote: “...the majority of Buddhists throughout history have not meditated. Meditation has traditionally been considered a monastic practice, and even then, a specialty only of certain monks.” - Robert E. Buswell Jr.
Analysis: In this quote, the author, Robert E. Buswell Jr., a Buddhist Studies professor at UCLA breaks the misconception about meditating in Buddhism. He explains how in Buddhist traditions, meditation has usually been carried out by a few monks. The act of meditation is not something that everyone in the religion conscientiously practices. In recent times, however, it has become a popular act. Meditation is now something many people, from monks to someone who doesn’t identify as Buddhist practice. It is unfair to use meditation as the symbol for the Buddhist religion if it’s not something required or something most Buddhists do.
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Misconception #2: Buddha is the God Buddhists believe in. Quote “ However, even though most of the world's Buddhists recite the name of Buddha or pray to Buddha, Buddha is not a deity or supreme being…” - Lewis Richmond
Analysis In this quote, the author Lewis Richmond, a Buddhist teacher explains that Buddha is not the One force or God they believe in. In fact, Buddhists don’t believe in any specific God because they believe that God can’t end one’s sufferings. However, people may pray to Buddha out of respect and love for him. I think that Buddhists being represented mainly by Buddha and not their ideologies is unjust. The religion is not only about Buddha, but it is also about their belief of how the world is full of suffering, but a journey to happiness can be made through the beliefs of Buddhism. I think that message should be the representative of Buddhism to the world.
Final Thoughts Often, misconceptions shine like negative on the religion, which refrains people from giving the religion a chance. This hurts the opportunities the religion has of acceptance by society and shuns their belief instead. Also, many times the misconceptions turn into harmful stereotypes which can label the religion as a whole. Learning about and breaking these misconceptions is very crucial in the accepting and peace between different beliefs. To understand each other’s religion and beliefs, we need to take the time to educate each other. We also need to be open minded. It’s okay for someone else’s beliefs to not match with yours. Our world is a very beautiful place because of all its diversity. Hopefully, one day through education and open mindsets we can all destroy the wrong ideas and misconceptions we have of other religions and accept them for the beauty they hold.
By: Rifah Islam
Opening Thoughts
As a Muslim woman and hijabi, I feel as though the world has many misconceptions about me. The information they were fed about my religion comes from many places such as the media, or the morals they were taught at home. However, in very few instances does that information come from a Muslim. We are given very few opportunities to break those misconceptions about our religion. That’s why we will be exploring “What are misconceptions that Hinduism and Buddhism faced with?”. It will be interesting to see what misconceptions other religions deal with. We will see how the world views them, then we will study their religion to see what they’re truly like.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HINDUISM
Misconception #1: Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.
Quote
“Then, there is the Hindu form of monotheism, in which the Divine is formally referred to as Brahman (not Brahmin, the priestly caste). It is said to be the source, the hub, from which all deities are manifest. It transcends all attempts at defining or qualifying it. It is not male nor female, has no form or description. It takes on apparent form or characteristics solely to allow humans the ability to relate to it. In that state, it may be called Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Devi, etc. All these names thus refer to a Qualified Absolute that is simultaneously beyond qualifications.” - Ramdas Lamb
Analysis
Hinduism is technically not a polytheistic religion. In this piece, written by Ramdas Lamb, a former hindu monk, explains that different kinds of gods and deities all represent the One larger force they believe in. They are all that One force, however they are just represented in different forms, qualities and characteristics. For example, Hindus can be found in temples, mosques and churches of other religions because they believe that all those forms of God are representing the One they believe in.
However, due to the fact that different idols are often associated with Hinduism, they are often labeled as a polytheistic religion. This misconception, that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion is harmful. Since many of the world’s biggest religions, like Christianity and Islam are a monotheistic religion, Hinduism can draw a lot of criticism for being polytheistic. However, since it is not, that criticism is unnecessary and it disrespectful to the whole idea of their religion.
Misconception #2: Those who believe in Hinduism worship idols.
Quote
“No Hindu will say he or she is worshipping an idol. Instead, Hindus believe a physical representation of God – in the form of an idol - helps them focus on an aspect of prayer or meditation.” - Moni Basu
Analysis
Like mentioned before, Hinduism is not a polytheistic religion. They enforce the representation of God through many forms, which can include idols. They worship the idea of the idol representing their God. It’s like algebra, where you substitute a variable for the numbers you don’t know, to better understand the equation.
The idols help them find something they can connect to their God with, but they do not necessarily worship that idol. This misconception also draws a lot of negative light towards the religion, which is again unnecessary since the believers of Hinduism do not worship idols.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BUDDHISM
Misconception #1: Meditation is practiced by all Buddhists.
Quote:
“...the majority of Buddhists throughout history have not meditated. Meditation has traditionally been considered a monastic practice, and even then, a specialty only of certain monks.” - Robert E. Buswell Jr.
Analysis:
In this quote, the author, Robert E. Buswell Jr., a Buddhist Studies professor at UCLA breaks the misconception about meditating in Buddhism. He explains how in Buddhist traditions, meditation has usually been carried out by a few monks. The act of meditation is not something that everyone in the religion conscientiously practices.
In recent times, however, it has become a popular act. Meditation is now something many people, from monks to someone who doesn’t identify as Buddhist practice. It is unfair to use meditation as the symbol for the Buddhist religion if it’s not something required or something most Buddhists do.
Misconception #2: Buddha is the God Buddhists believe in.
Quote
“ However, even though most of the world's Buddhists recite the name of Buddha or pray to Buddha, Buddha is not a deity or supreme being…” - Lewis Richmond
Analysis
In this quote, the author Lewis Richmond, a Buddhist teacher explains that Buddha is not the One force or God they believe in. In fact, Buddhists don’t believe in any specific God because they believe that God can’t end one’s sufferings. However, people may pray to Buddha out of respect and love for him.
I think that Buddhists being represented mainly by Buddha and not their ideologies is unjust. The religion is not only about Buddha, but it is also about their belief of how the world is full of suffering, but a journey to happiness can be made through the beliefs of Buddhism. I think that message should be the representative of Buddhism to the world.
Final Thoughts
Often, misconceptions shine like negative on the religion, which refrains people from giving the religion a chance. This hurts the opportunities the religion has of acceptance by society and shuns their belief instead. Also, many times the misconceptions turn into harmful stereotypes which can label the religion as a whole. Learning about and breaking these misconceptions is very crucial in the accepting and peace between different beliefs. To understand each other’s religion and beliefs, we need to take the time to educate each other. We also need to be open minded. It’s okay for someone else’s beliefs to not match with yours. Our world is a very beautiful place because of all its diversity. Hopefully, one day through education and open mindsets we can all destroy the wrong ideas and misconceptions we have of other religions and accept them for the beauty they hold.
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